What we know

What we know

What we know

The SMC team produces explanatory articles on topical issues to answer society’s questions, with the necessary context and depth.

Inequalities in the medical profession: why women fail to reach leadership positions

Every 11 February is celebrated as World Medical Women's Day, which coincides with the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, although its commemoration refers to Elizabeth Blackwell, the first woman to obtain a medical degree in the USA, in 1849. More than a century and a half later, despite the increasing number of women graduates, inequalities persist in the profession, especially in senior positions.

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What is inflammation: a guide to information and how to avoid falling for ineffective remedies

Inflammation is all the rage. In fact, anti-inflammatory diets that claim to fight it. This is attested to by best-selling books and influencers, ready to give us the latest tips on how to lose weight, or rather, how to reduce inflammation. But what's the truth in all this, and what does inflammation have to do with being overweight? 

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2025 is the International Year of Quantum Science and Technology: this guide will help you understand what they are and what they are for

UNESCO has proclaimed 2025 as the International Year of Quantum Science and Technology. This initiative aims to ‘raise public awareness of the importance of quantum science and its applications’, as well as to celebrate and recognise 100 years since the initial development of quantum mechanics. But why is this scientific discipline so relevant? We explore with experts the key issues and the impact of quantum science and technology on the development of our society.

 

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What to expect from the Baku Climate Summit

Next Monday sees the start of COP29 in Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan, a summit marked by Donald Trump's victory as president of the United States on Tuesday. His denial of climate change and his commitment to fossil fuels during his previous term in office will weigh down a meeting from which no major agreements are expected and from which experts are calling for greater ambition. 

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Questions and answers on the Marburg virus outbreak in Rwanda

In Rwanda, according to the latest ECDC data, 25 cases and 11 deaths have been detected in what is already the third largest outbreak of the Marburg virus to date. The WHO considers the overall risk to be low and possible imported cases from Belgium and Germany - reported only yesterday in Hamburg - have proved to be false alarms. What is of concern is the national and regional spread of a virus for which mortality can be as high as 88% and for which there is no treatment or vaccine. In this article we answer the main questions.

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Questions and Answers about CAR-T Cell Treatments and the Risk of Secondary Tumors

The regulatory agencies for medicines in the United States and Europe have issued statements informing about a possible risk of developing certain types of tumors following CAR-T cell immunotherapy treatment. What do we know so far? What is the real risk? Does the benefit-risk balance still hold? Has anything changed after these alerts? We answer these questions with expert opinions and the data currently available. 

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Mosquito-borne diseases: an increasing risk in Spain

International health organisations are warning about the spread in Europe of mosquito species that transmit diseases such as dengue fever. In Spain, where they are already widespread across much of the country, the Centro de Coordinación de Alertas y Emergencias Sanitarias (CCAES) warns of the risk of West Nile virus, and says that the summer is expected to be complicated. In this guide, we bring together information to understand this public health issue. 

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